With winter sports comes the agony of sore muscles, particularly when it’s your first time on the slopes this year. I have a client that has been dealing with hip and ankle pain I have been treating her compensation patterns with great results. We reminded each other what steps for her to take to maintain stability and not regress.
She is planning a holiday trip to the slopes so here are easy things to do before and after tips checklist:
- Start with a slow warm-up. Cold muscles suddenly put to work are more likely to become damaged than those that have been warmed up properly. With a warm-up, the body is properly adapted to the demands of winter sports.
- After your warm-up it’s important to do some light stretching, but novice skiers forget, even if you are bundled up in snowsuit and boots.
- Massage speeds healing, massage has been shown to lower levels of muscle soreness by stimulating neutrophils (white blood cells that fight inflammation). Athletes swear by it.
- Take a hot shower. After a day outside in the snow, your body will be cold and exhausted. A shower will not only invigorate you but also warm you up and relieve your tired muscles.
- To lessen your pain and to help your body relax before going to bed, apply a pain relieving liniment and allow the liquid to penetrate your muscles. Work into your tissues with slight pressure. You’ll wake up feeling relaxed and at ease.